Life in Mono

They both looked stonily straight ahead from their car seats. The morning traffic caterpillared forward, everybody trying to gain that extra distance to get to their destination, to fulfill their livelihood obligation for the day, and they were waiting for their turn to move ahead.

She took in air, before breathing out again silently. Their lives had been like this for the past few years. He would drop her at work, before he headed to his office. Both of them would go through the rigours of office politics and other corporate what-nots, and he would pick her up after work; they then head to either in-laws place for dinner. Their topics of conversation has never strayed far from their schedules, their obligations to their own parents, the daily mundane things of life. So routine that she felt the crushing weight of the unspoken desires, dreams and thoughts.

She could feel that his mind was faraway. Somewhere where she couldn't reach out to, or understand. It had been a while..that they talked about what they wanted to do, their aspiration, and their plans for the future. Had reality finally set in? They were now more concerned talking about their bonuses, and the tax reliefs which they could claim come every April. There were still a few romantic moments now and then, which had often happened enough to keep their sex life reasonably satisfied, but she missed the kind of connection..when they just talked. About anything.

She took in another breathe, about to blurt out something that would break the silent monotony of this routine morning drive. But just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, she caught herself. It seemed pointless - things were ok now, why rock the boat and create unnecessary trouble. So the words wisped into thin air, and blown away with her exhaled breath.

She continued staring at the traffic ahead, waiting for the traffic light to change its the colour, and blend into the anonymous mass of morning traffic.


(Inspired by this couple I saw from the rear view mirror during my drive to work this morning. What was that phrase about the characters being fictional, and any coincidence to any real persons are..concidence? Oh well..you know that)

(Anyway I still cant get the mental image out of my mind, seemed like there was still a little something..so here's my final take)

He stared stonily ahead...he had to reach her office soon, if not he would be late for the 9am meeting. And only one thing ran through his mind relentlessly..


Why didn't his EPL team score that goal last night??

(Mars vs Venus..the world will never be equal)